JAMMU, July 26: Over 8300 pilgrims drawn from different parts of country paid obeisance at 3880 metre high Himalayan cave in South Kashmir district of Anantnag on 24th day of pilgrimage today.Officials said that 8355 pilgrims performed darshan from twin tracks of Baltal and Nunwan-Pahalgam of naturally formed Ice Shivlingam in cave shrine by this evening. With this, the total number of pilgrims who performed darshan in last 24 days since the annual yatra started on July 3 has touched 3,68,675.
Officials said among today’s batch of 8355 yatris were 6280 males, 1525 females, 80 children, 74 Sadhus, one Sadhvi, five transgenders and 390 security forces personnel.
They said all these pilgrims after performing darshan started their return journey towards Domail and Panchtarni. They said majority of yatris out of 3.60 lakh pilgrims who performed darshan at cave shrine during last 24 days have returned to their home States while others are on the way.
Meanwhile, a fresh batch of over 2,300 pilgrims left Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas here today to offer prayers at the holy cave shrine of Amarnath Ji in South Kashmir Himalayas, officials said.
However, the footfall at the shrine has started decreasing over the past few days.
Escorted by the police and CRPF personnel, the 24th batch of 2,324 pilgrims, including 377 women and 51 Sadhus and Sadhvis, left Jammu’s Bhagwati Nagar base camp in 92 vehicles for the twin base camps in Kashmir between 3.25 am and 3.45 am, the officials said.
The first convoy, carrying 741 pilgrims in 34 vehicles, left for the shorter but steeper 14-km Baltal route in Ganderbal district, followed by the second convoy of 1,583 pilgrims in 58 vehicles who are undertaking the yatra via the 48-km traditional Pahalgam route in Anantnag district, they said.
With this, a total of 1,39,098 pilgrims have departed from the Jammu base camp for the Valley since July 2 when Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha flagged off the first batch.
The pilgrimage is scheduled to end on August 9, coinciding with the Hindu festival of Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan after the holy mace (Chhari Mubarak) of Lord Shiva led by its sole custodian Mahant Deependra Giri Ji and accompanied by Sadhus ad devotees reaches the cave shrine.
The holy mace will leave its abode Dashnami Akhara Srinagar on August 4 for cave shrine and enroute it will pay obeisance at various temples before reaching Pahalgam in the same day evening. The holy mace will have two days halt at Pahalgam before leaving for onwards sojourn to cave shrine.
The Chhari Sathapana will be held at Dashnami Akhara tomorrow while Chhari Pujan will be performed on Nag Panchmi falling on July 29 in a traditional way at Amreshwar temple Dashnami Akhara by Mahant Ji, Sadhus and other devotees.
The holy mace after performing puja and other religious rituals at cave shrine on August 9 will start its return journey towards Panchtarni on the same day evening where from it will leave for Pahalgam next day on its way to Dashnami Akhara. With this, the annual pilgrimage of Shri Amarnath Ji will culminate.
